A new report shows about half of the nation’s school principals felt their schools were short workers in late summer, and that they’ve had trouble filling unopen positions.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics commissioned through an executive order from President Joe Biden.
The news is confirmation of something that school officials have long been vocal about in Knox and Warren counties.
Illinois’ 17th District Congresswoman Cheri Bustos has responded by sponsoring a bill to improve teacher retention.
Bustos’ RETAIN Act would create a fully refundable tax credit for teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health providers, school leaders in Title I schools and some employees with Head Start and Development Block Grant-funded early childhood education programs.
The tax credit would start at $5,800 annually and increase to $11,600 as these professionals become more experienced to incentivize retention.
Bustos comments that “With academic and behavioral problems on the rise, it’s getting harder and harder to keep educators and fill essential roles at our schools.”
